Friday, 28 December 2012

The years have been flying by so fast nowadays. Seems like
just yesterday we were planning Second Storey’s grand opening. I wish I was
more eloquent so I could write about the deep meaning of improv and how it
moves and shapes my life in a positive way. I can’t, so I will just ramble on
instead.

In the last 6 months I have been living my lifelong dream of
owning and operating my own improv theatre. I say 6 months because 6 months ago
I quit my day job of 10 years to put my full effort into being an artistic
director and actor. I have been involved in the theatre since 2009, but took it
over solo in the middle of 2011 and have been fully in charge since Jan 2012. I
have been able to do this because of the support that surrounds me; I have a
loving and supportive family and girlfriend. This may turn into a mushy thank
you, so bear with me.

It wasn’t just my family and friends that supported me. It
was also the 40+ improvisers and volunteers that were willing to put the time
and work in to produce a great show and push themselves further with their
improv. They stood by and trusted me when I had no idea where we would be
going. They held me up when I was exhausted from working a full time job as
well attempting to run the theatre. They understood that when I would yell it
was out of love and desire to help them move forward. (This isn’t always
understood. I can come across a little harsh at times.) They helped create the
amazing community that we now enjoy in our little space. I owe them a lot. I
assume I am feeling mushy because it is the holiday season, but everyone does
deserve a thank you.

Another reason for this post is because I am back at my old
job for a couple weeks to cover while my former boss is away. It feels
different. Not just because it isn’t permanent – I think it also has something
to do with how good I feel and how much positive energy I now have around me. I
don’t remember having felt this happy before. Being able to create as a job is
pretty amazing. I am not at a level where I am financially secure, but I am
getting by. I also have seen that being able to focus on what I love without
distractions makes it grow so fast. The last year has been a whirlwind. The
theatre has grown more in the last 6 months then I ever could have expected. I
love that I am chasing to keep up.

So here we are in the present. We have thanked the past. How
about the future?

The future has been on my mind recently. I was at an arts
convention full of artists from all over the lower mainland and island. We were
asked to sit at tables with people we didn’t know. The hosts asked us questions
and we would then discuss them with our groups. Some of it was useless. There
were a lot of people saying how hard times were and that they need the
government to give them money. We also looked at our companies and decided
where we were at. Were we at the idea stage, the growth stage or all the way on
the other side at the terminal stage?

Terminal stage was the last stage, which meant the end
of the road or a chance for rebirth. I put Second Storey at the growth stage,
but there were a lot of groups at that scary terminal stage. I was able to
shake it off and think that we weren’t headed in that direction. We are new and
hip and edgy. We are gonna last forever. This was how I felt – until a little
blue-haired lady from the island said this to me: “I was young hip and edgy
once. My audience was right there with me. Now I’m a little old lady and my
audience is dying off. Think about that now while you can.”

Those words are still rolling around in my head. It really
put things in perspective for me. I want the community we have built to
continue to grow, change, challenge and push forward with or without me. I am
still attempting to figure out what this all means. I know that our mission and
ideas need to be clear so that others can carry it on for years to come. People
are starting to emerge as leaders but many more are needed…

I have been stuck after that sentence for a long time. It
proves to me that I have not found the all the answers yet. (Not that I ever
expect to!) I do know that I don’t want to be a little old man looking back
wishing I had done something different. I also realize that it means I will
have to start to give up some of the responsibility around the theatre. This is
definitely not something that comes easily to me. It shows me that I know what
I want for this company and community. I want it to continue on long after I am
gone. I want it to always be edgy and cool, relevant and supportive,
challenging and special for those involved. I want it to be a family. I can be
pretty protective of that because I see how great it is. I need to keep moving
forward. I need to always be present, thankful and peering to the future. Well,
better get back it.

I have since written a Mission Statement

Mission Statement ​

​

﻿Our mission is to use improv to build and support a home for performers, volunteers and audience to call their own.

​We will strive to stay relevant, supportive, challenging and special for those involved. Our priority is to push everyone to find the greatness within themselves and apply it to their lives. We will continue to pursue perfection with a clear understanding that we will never achieve it. Instead, our focus is to build trust in our group and continue to experience the journey. We will attempt to instill a desire to keep learning and avoid complacency; to always be working toward personal goals and celebrating our achievements.

​

We will not linger on roadblocks. We will look for the positive in all situations and spread that positivity to those around us. Above all else, we will maintain a healthy improv environment where we can continue to learn and grow.